 These events heightened tensions between the three kingdoms, all of which sought the favor of the Ming court, which was largely unresponsive; Bunei only received his formal investiture in 1406, ten years after succeeding his father, and less than a year before his own death.As a result of these political instabilities, the "aji" (local territorial lords) began to seize more power for themselves within their tiny local domains.One "aji", by the name of Hashi, deposed his neighboring lord of Azato in 1402 and seized his territory.